Child killer jailed for life

A man who battered a three-year-old girl to death by repeatedly punching, kicking and stamping was jailed for life today.

Jade Sinclair was left with more than 100 injuries to her body after she was systematically abused in the months leading to her tragic death.

As he finally put an end to the toddler's life, Steven Barton even turned up the stereo to drown out her screams, a court heard today.

He then waited more than two hours as she lay in agony in the house in Lincoln before calling an ambulance.

A judge at Nottingham Crown Court today ordered Barton, 24, of no fixed abode, to serve a minimum of 16 years behind bars, after he pleaded guilty to the girl's murder.

The court heard he had befriended the little girl's mother, Natalie Logan, after leaving prison towards the end of 2002.

By Christmas of that year he moved into the home she shared with her daughter in Thoresway Drive, in the Ermine East area of the city.

He took the domestic role in the house, and was often left to look after Jade while her mother went out to work.

The court heard that by the time of her death in March 2003, he had assaulted her on numerous occasions.

On the night of March 26 last year, a neighbour heard a little girl crying before a stereo was turned up very loud.

After an hour the music was turned off but no more cries could be heard.

It is believed that between two and three hours passed before Barton, who had a previous conviction for assaulting a two-year-old boy, called emergency services.

The little girl was taken to Sheffield Children's Hospital where she died a few days later.

Home Office pathologist Professor Chris Milroy said it was the worst case of child abuse he had seen in more than 30 years of work.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Graham White, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "No murder inquiry is easy to deal with but particularly when it is someone as young as this it becomes a very harrowing experience.

"For her family it has been a long and traumatic period of time and they are quite pleased that it is now finished and they can start to put it behind them and get on with the rest of their lives."